Misperceptions In Foreign Policymaking

This book examines the process by which government leaders perceive events and use information in making foreign policy decisions. In his case study of the Sino-Indian conflict, the author explores the attitudes that shaped India’s policy toward China and traces the network of misunderstandings that led to a war unwanted by both sides. Taking into account technical, organizational, cultural, group-dynamic, and key personality variables, Dr. Vertzberger discusses the Sino-Indian conflict within a global and regional systems perspective and describes what was at stake in the conflict from the point of view of each country involved. Subsequent chapters analyze Nehru’s view of India’s role, the influence of national public opinion in shaping Nehru’s attitudes, the perceived relationships between Sino-Indian interactions and India’s relations with its neighbors, and India’s evaluation of the balance of power between itself and China. One section of the book focuses on India’s intelligence community and the mishandling of information that led to a failure of signaling efforts on both sides. Cultural differences between China and India, Nehru’s personality and style of leadership, and the role of major organizations such as the army, various ministries, and Parliament are also assessed in terms of their impact on the conflict.